Charles Flanagan
Question:9 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the OSCE meeting he attended in December 1997. [4269/98]
Ceisteanna — Questions. - OSCE Meeting.
The OSCE Ministerial Council which I attended took place in Copenhagen on 18-19 December 1997. The outcome of the council was entirely satisfactory from Ireland's standpoint. Several important decisions which will guide the OSCE in its future work were adopted.
One of the main items on the agenda of the council was a review of work on the OSCE's contribution towards enhancing security in Europe. In my statement to the meeting, I said I believed conditions were becoming ripe for agreement on a comprehensive and solemn document on security for a new era. I therefore welcome the Council's agreement on guidelines for a charter or document on European security, intended for adoption by OSCE heads of state or government at its next summit, most likely in 1999.
The guidelines reflect the aim of the OSCE states to build on the improved post-Cold War security situation in Europe to create a common, inclusive security space, free of dividing lines. Central to these efforts is the concept of mutually reinforcing cooperation among the various European and Euro-Atlantic security organisations, in particular in relation to conflict prevention, peacekeeping and crisis management. The OSCE has endorsed such cooperation and has referred to, among other organisations, the EU, NATO, Western European Union and the Council of Europe in this regard. The agreed guidelines reflect EU proposals to build on the successful cooperation of the key international organisations in Bosnia and more recently in Albania.
On regional issues, the Copenhagen meeting noted with satisfaction the considerable progress made in implementing the Dayton-Paris peace accords in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There have been substantial achievements concerning confidence and security building measures and targets have been exceeded in respect of measures for sub-regional arms control.
The council underlined the importance of moving now to start the process of more widespread regional stabilisation. Our continued commitment to a democratic and multi-ethnic Bosnia and Hercegovina is reflected in the extension of the mandate of the OSCE mission to Bosnia to 31 December 1998. The council also welcomed the strengthening of the OSCE mission to Croatia following the departure on 15 January of the United Nations transitional administration in Eastern Slovenia.
As I said in Copenhagen, the international community is showing increasing confidence in the OSCE, particularly in its conflict prevention missions. This presents new opportunities to make a significant and visible contribution to peace, security and human rights in Europe. It also presents new challenges. In Bosnia, Hercegovina and Croatia, the OSCE missions must play a significant role in promoting conditions for the security and democratic rights of returnees and displaced persons. At Copenhagen, Ministers recognised that tasks in the field of human rights are crucial and emphasised the importance of the return of refugees.
Several important organisational decisions — which I welcome — were also taken by the council. It is essential that we avoid making increasing demands on the OSCE without providing the necessary support. I consider it timely, therefore, that agreement was reached on financial reform involving assessed rather than ad hoc voluntary contributions in respect of large scale OSCE projects. This will place the funding of crucial missions, such as those in Bosnia and Croatia, on a much sounder footing. In addition, review groups were established to examine how to enhance the operational capacity of the secretariat and the efficiency of OSCE meetings on human dimension issues.
While in Copenhagen, I also availed of the opportunity for bilateral meetings with a number of my colleagues, including Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and Bosnia.
Was the developing and worrying situation in Kosovo discussed at any of the Minister's bilateral meetings or at the OSCE meeting? Will he take the opportunity at next Monday's General Affairs Council to obtain the views of his colleagues on the situation? Perhaps he may then be able to brief the House on the latest position.
I will do that. The OSCE had a mission in Kosovo which was terminated when the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was suspended from that organisation. Given its expertise in addressing minority and human rights questions, a role for the OSCE would appear to be appropriate and useful. However, the decision to allow such a role depends on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's authorities.
Written answers follow Adjournment Debates.